Additional requirements Gay Pride event will be investigated

WILLEMSTAD – Prime Minister Ivar Asjes believes that the additional requirements imposed on the Gay Pride in Curaçao should be investigated. He will ask the Minister of Justice, Nelson Navarro to request this investigation.

The Gay Pride event was supposed to take place last Saturday in downtown Willemstad. Even Amsterdam Major, Eberhard van der Laan, had sent a letter to Prime Minister Asjes to wish him good luck with the event and also to offer advice. Gay Pride is a common yearly event held in Amsterdam.

Winnie Raveneau

Asjes’ party comrade and Member of Parliament, Winnie Raveneau called on church leaders in a letter to condemn this Gay Pride event. “The majority of the island has a lot of respect and appreciation for the word of God. The spiritual leaders are there to protect the people against this wrong way of life,” Raveneau said in her letter.

Personal capacity

According to Asjes the letter was written in a personal capacity and he stressed that his government has nothing against gays and lesbians. “We respect every human being on this earth and we believe that everyone who wants to demonstrate or want to organize a meeting should have that possibility. There should be no impediment imposed,” says Asjes .

Caribbean Pride

Asjes will consult with the Minister of Justice about the Caribbean Gay Pride which will be held in May next year. He doesn’t foresee any problems. “I truly respect everyone’s opinion and I stand for freedom of expression,” the Prime Minister stated.

Questions were asked in the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament by both VVD and PvdA to the Minister of Kingdom Relations about the fuss around the Gay Pride.